Batteries do explode.  Knowing that it was bad was definitely a sign to take
it out of service.  Trying to charge any defective battery can cause this
event.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Bj�rn Ratjen <bratjen@DIRECT.CA>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Sunday, May 09, 1999 1:28 AM
Subject: battery explosion

Something to ponder:

My 78 Bus has recently been reactivated and was used for some trips and as
an extra vehicle while my Syncro's rear end was being repaired. We have two
batteries in the rear engine compartment, separated by a manual switch.
(The idea is that you always have enough power to start even when you are
camping for a longer period of time.) The main battery was deteriorating
and did not hold the charge very well. On my son's recent trip it exploded!
Pieces of the pattery housing were all across the engine compartment and
acid had sprayed all over the place too. When we took the battery out you
could see all the warped interior plates. All cells have been shattered and
most of the lid of the battery as well as the side walls are splintered
off. It must have been quite a violent combustion.

The question is how could that have happened?

The battery was a black aftermarket battery sold under the label of CalVan.
I am not sure about its age, I guess about 5 years.

My concerns is vanagon related because our batteries are mounted under the
front seats. I have never seen such a violent destruction of a battery and
I sure do not want to have it in the interior of the car.

Any thoughts?

Bj�rn

Bj�rn Ratjen, Ph.D.
Mill Bay, B.C.
phone/fax (250) 743-7575